The Chieftains' tour is dedicated to the memory of a beloved band member

By Marcia MannaJanuary 20, 2005

For a full year after his death, the Chieftains honored longtime band member Derek Bell by keeping his chair on stage empty. It was a public expression of mourning, one that let the world know that Bell was irreplaceable, and that he would never be forgotten.

In the Emerald Isle, it's customary to follow a period of grieving with a celebration, and true to tradition, the Chieftains will release "Live From Dublin: A Tribute to Derek Bell" (RCA) Feb. 22.

The album is a joyous mix of bracing jigs and reels, storytelling and somber ballads, all reminiscent of Bell. A portion of the album will be showcased when the Chieftains perform Saturday at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

Dubbed Ireland's music ambassadors, the Chieftains formed in 1963, naming themselves after "The Death of a Chieftain," a book by poet John Montague. Historically, "chieftains" were leaders of Ireland's clans.

The band's collective passion is preserving Irish folk music and it is renowned for reviving a global interest in the genre. In the 1990s, after years of pub gigs, the Chieftains claimed six Grammy Awards and continue to tour internationally.

The band has the unique distinction of performing as an opening act for both Pope John Paul II and the Rolling Stones. And musical collaborations include everyone from Alison Krauss and Elvis Costello to Van Morrison.

Bell was a Chieftains member for more than 30 years, and shared the band's reverence for traditional Irish folk music. He died of heart failure in 2002, and the Chieftains lost both a colleague and a friend. A classically trained harpist, Bell also maintained a solo career and appeared with numerous symphony orchestras.

"I used to apply to get him off from the BBC Orchestra," said Chieftains founder Paddy Moloney in a thick brogue. "His boss there came to him and said, 'Listen, what are ya doing with that tatty folk group?' "

The band still jokingly refers to itself as a "tatty folk group" and its North American Tour is as much a party in Bell's honor as a series of appearances.

Saturday's concert also will include Spanish guest artists Carlos Nunez, Francisco Alvarez and Jorge Nunez, who will be featured in a medley of the music from Galacia, the Celtic part of Spain.

An Irish celebration would be incomplete without step dancers, and Moloney likes to remind folks that "Lord of the Dance" star Michael Flatley got his start with the Chieftains.

Step dancers Jon and Nathan Pilatzke, Cara Butler and Donny Golden have joined the band for this tour, and Moloney bragged that the troupe "takes the house down."

A new harpist has joined the band, and Moloney sensed that Bell had something to do with hiring Triona Marshall, a red-haired Dubliner.

"Here I was in Belfast, with the same orchestra in the same town playing the same tune we played when we met Derek 32 years ago," said Moloney. "I was looking for a harpist and someone introduced me to Triona Marshall. Later I thought, 'That dirty little rogue, I'll bet that was him that put that together.' "

Moloney said Bell's influence is still very much alive, and their friendship inspired him to write the haunting and poignant "Derek's Tune," one of the cuts on the new album.

"It strikes me that he's gone, but then I think ... he's not gone," said Moloney. "I still talk about that lovable devil. I was moved to express a piece of music, something he would like. I still feel he's around all the time."

Marcia Manna covers North County arts and entertainment for the Union-Tribune.